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[RESOLVED] Losing all configuration data and settings multiple times


WfM

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Hello all,

I've been using Gameex for about 5 years or so with no problems. I registered it long ago. I would sometimes go months without turning on my cab and all would be well. I used my cab about two weeks ago and it was fine. Turned it on three days ago and it went straight to the generic default Gameex startup screen (not the Arcade theme I'd been using for years). All my Mame settings were lost, the list of emulators was empty, etc. Everything was gone.

I went into advanced configuration and everything was gone and empty. I went ahead and downloaded the latest version of Gameex and over the last couple of days reloaded and set back up everything, Mame, multiple emulators, etc. Last night I had gotten Daphne setup and everything was running smoothly. I had rebooted several times and so on. No problems.

I cut the cab on this morning and everything was gone again. Back to the default Gameex startup screen, no emulators setup, all control settings gone, etc.

Anybody have any clue where to start with this? No changes were made to the cab or the pc or anything? I hate to go through all the setup just to lose everything again. Hoping to find out a possible reason before I sit down with it again. Thanks in advance if anyone can help!

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Could you provide the files we need (ie GameEx log and ini) so we can look at your install path and whatnot?

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Hi WfM,

There are a few things that could be causing this, so i'll ask some quick questions if i may:

Is GameEx installed in the default location (C:\GameEx) or in a system directory such as Program Files or even a separate partition?

Do you have more than one installation of GameEx?

Does the GameEx directory and it's subdirectories have write permissions? Which leads me to...

Are you using any logon features and are you sure you are logged into the same User each time?

These are a few off the top of my head but i'm sure there are more.

When you reply would mind attaching your log and gameex.ini.

Thanks :)

EDIT - Adultery, don ninja me i keel you :P

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Let me go check on directories and try and get the log file and ini file. I do know there is no user login info at play. It is an XP machine with only the default user and also there are no separate drive partitions. Only one installation of Gameex ever.

Thanks for the help. It's strange it would just do this after several years?

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It does have a wireless adapter on the pc and it will logon to the internet automatically after boot up. Do I paste all this log and config info into the body of a message or send it as an attachment somehow?

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Alright here's the log info. This was the second time I cut it on this morning, after I had re-enabled the red theme and keyboard input and a couple of other things. This wasn't the log from early this morning when everything first disappeared again:

12:23:44.3 11/7/2014: Opening Configuration File
12:23:44.3 11/7/2014: GameEx: Version 13.32: Starting Log
12:23:44.5 11/7/2014: Windows XP Professional Service Pack 3
12:23:44.5 11/7/2014: Getting CPU and RAM info
12:23:44.5 11/7/2014: Intel® Pentium® D CPU 3.00GHz, 3070MB
12:23:44.5 11/7/2014: 2.99Ghz - 2 Cores or CPU's
12:23:44.5 11/7/2014: Running Randomize()
12:23:44.5 11/7/2014: Loading PlugIns
12:23:44.6 11/7/2014: Checking for applications to Launch On Startup
12:23:44.6 11/7/2014: Setting default net connection limit to 15
12:23:44.6 11/7/2014: Running Misc startup tasks
12:23:44.6 11/7/2014: Setting Menu types
12:23:44.6 11/7/2014: Getting Configuration Values
12:23:44.6 11/7/2014: Using Theme: Default - RedEx - Arcade800x600
12:23:44.6 11/7/2014: Checking for alternate Image Directory for Theme: Default - RedEx - Arcade800x600
12:23:44.6 11/7/2014: Launching HideOS.exe
12:23:44.6 11/7/2014: Initialising Video/MNG DLL's
12:23:44.6 11/7/2014: Arcade Mode is on
12:23:44.6 11/7/2014: GameEx will check for media insertion (may affect performance)
12:23:44.6 11/7/2014: Hiding Taskbar
12:23:44.6 11/7/2014: Is Media Center running?
12:23:44.6 11/7/2014: Checking/Creating LCD Registry values
12:23:44.6 11/7/2014: Check Media Center Exit/Start Mode
12:23:44.6 11/7/2014: Media Center Mode 2
12:23:44.6 11/7/2014: Video previews on. Warning: Only recommended on modern systems
12:23:44.6 11/7/2014: Custom Keyboard Input enabled: Getting custom codes
12:23:44.6 11/7/2014: Advanced Custom Keyboard Input enabled: Getting custom codes
12:23:44.6 11/7/2014: Custom Game Device Input enabled: Getting custom codes
12:23:44.6 11/7/2014: Snap Delay set to: 4
12:23:44.6 11/7/2014: Get other settings
12:23:44.6 11/7/2014: Desktop set to Hide ICONS and set Background to Black
12:23:44.6 11/7/2014: Set: Find emulator artwork on best match basis
12:23:44.6 11/7/2014: SlikStik support enabled
12:23:44.6 11/7/2014: Using DirectInput for keyboard input
12:23:44.6 11/7/2014: Start work for Form
12:23:44.6 11/7/2014: Getting Original Screen Size
12:23:44.6 11/7/2014: Opening Database Connection
12:23:44.8 11/7/2014: Initializing Component
12:23:44.9 11/7/2014: MAME Path is: C:\Emulators\Mame32
12:23:44.9 11/7/2014: MAME EXE file is: Mame32.exe
12:23:44.9 11/7/2014: ROM Path is: C:\Emulators\Mame32\roms
12:23:44.9 11/7/2014: Catver.ini is located at: C:\Program Files\GameEx\DATA\catver.ini
12:23:44.9 11/7/2014: controls.ini is located at: C:\Program Files\GameEx\DATA\controls.ini
12:23:45.0 11/7/2014: History.dat is located at: C:\Program Files\GameEx\DATA\history.dat
12:23:45.0 11/7/2014: nplayers.ini is located at: C:\Program Files\GameEx\DATA\nplayers.ini
12:23:45.0 11/7/2014: command.dat is located at: C:\Program Files\GameEx\DATA\command.dat
12:23:45.0 11/7/2014: MAMEinfo.dat is located at: C:\Program Files\GameEx\DATA\mameinfo.dat
12:23:45.0 11/7/2014: Loading Controls.ini map file
12:23:45.0 11/7/2014: Snap Path is: C:\Emulators\Mame32\snap
12:23:45.0 11/7/2014: Database Snap Path: Not Found
12:23:45.0 11/7/2014: Background Snap Path: Not Found
12:23:45.0 11/7/2014: AVI Snap Path: Not Found
12:23:45.0 11/7/2014: Flyer Path is: C:\Emulators\Mame32\flyers
12:23:45.0 11/7/2014: Cabinet Path is: C:\Emulators\Mame32\cabinets
12:23:45.0 11/7/2014: Cabinet 3D Path: Not Found
12:23:45.0 11/7/2014: Title Path is: C:\Emulators\Mame32\titles
12:23:45.0 11/7/2014: PCB Path is: C:\Emulators\Mame32\pcb
12:23:45.0 11/7/2014: Artwork Preview Path: Not Found
12:23:45.0 11/7/2014: Panel Path is: C:\Emulators\Mame32\cpanel
12:23:45.0 11/7/2014: Manual Path: Not Found
12:23:45.0 11/7/2014: Icon Path is: C:\Emulators\Mame32\icons
12:23:45.0 11/7/2014: Marquee Path is: C:\Emulators\Mame32\marquees
12:23:45.0 11/7/2014: Applying Language/Text
12:23:45.0 11/7/2014: Text/Language: English
12:23:45.0 11/7/2014: Loading Language/Text
12:23:45.1 11/7/2014: Loading Custom Emulators
12:23:45.1 11/7/2014: Checking if Steam enabled
12:23:45.1 11/7/2014: Cannot find steam path
12:23:45.2 11/7/2014: Checking if Origin enabled
12:23:45.2 11/7/2014: Cannot find origin executable
12:23:45.2 11/7/2014: Checking if Uplay enabled
12:23:45.2 11/7/2014: Cannot find UPlay executable
12:23:45.2 11/7/2014: Using 2D Animations
12:23:45.2 11/7/2014: Retrieving resolution setting
12:23:45.2 11/7/2014: Using General Font: Trebuchet MS
12:23:45.2 11/7/2014: Using Title Font: Trebuchet MS
12:23:45.2 11/7/2014: GameEx will try to reduce CPU usage
12:23:50.7 11/7/2014: Initialising Direct3D
12:23:50.8 11/7/2014: Applying GameEx is Loading Image
12:23:50.9 11/7/2014: Setting Resolution to 1920x1200 32 bit color
12:23:50.9 11/7/2014: Creating Surfaces
12:23:51.1 11/7/2014: Creating Primary Surface - Full Screen Mode
12:23:51.1 11/7/2014: Creating Back Buffer
12:23:51.1 11/7/2014: Loading graphic Surfaces
12:23:51.1 11/7/2014: Display is running at: 1920x1200 32bit color, 60hz
12:23:51.1 11/7/2014: Adapter: NVIDIA GeForce GT 430
12:23:51.1 11/7/2014: Max texture size: 8192x8192
12:23:51.1 11/7/2014: Available texture memory: 1474MB
12:23:51.1 11/7/2014: Initialising Bass Audio Library
12:23:51.2 11/7/2014: Creating Surfaces Misc and Dialogs
12:23:51.8 11/7/2014: Creating Surfaces Volume
12:23:51.8 11/7/2014: Creating Surfaces Arrows
12:23:51.8 11/7/2014: Creating Surfaces GameEXlogo Text
12:23:51.8 11/7/2014: Creating Surfaces Toolbar
12:23:51.8 11/7/2014: Creating Surfaces Toolbar Controls
12:23:51.8 11/7/2014: Creating Surfaces Backgrounds
12:23:51.8 11/7/2014: Creating Surfaces GameEx Logo
12:23:51.8 11/7/2014: Creating Surface Unselected
12:23:51.8 11/7/2014: Creating Surfaces Home & Exit
12:23:51.8 11/7/2014: Creating Surfaces Snaps
12:23:51.8 11/7/2014: Creating Surfaces Menu and List Bars
12:23:51.9 11/7/2014: Creating Fonts
12:23:51.9 11/7/2014: Creating Game Font
12:23:52.6 11/7/2014: Creating Game Font Faded
12:23:53.8 11/7/2014: Creating Title Font
12:23:53.8 11/7/2014: Restoring Title Font From Cache
12:23:54.1 11/7/2014: Creating Menu Font
12:23:54.6 11/7/2014: Creating Font Black
12:23:54.7 11/7/2014: Creating Font Black Small
12:23:54.8 11/7/2014: Fonts Created Succesfully
12:23:55.4 11/7/2014: 9MB Video Memory Used
12:23:55.4 11/7/2014: Attempting to load game list
12:23:55.6 11/7/2014: MAME CMD options: -nowindow -joy -skip_gameinfo
12:23:55.6 11/7/2014: Initialising DirectInput for Gamepad support
12:23:55.7 11/7/2014: Unable to create a joystick device
12:23:55.7 11/7/2014: Initialising DirectInput for Keyboard support
12:23:55.9 11/7/2014: Loading Start Page
12:23:55.9 11/7/2014: Initializing MCE Remote
12:23:55.9 11/7/2014: Playing intro sound file
12:23:55.9 11/7/2014: Initialization OK! Starting GameEx!
12:23:55.9 11/7/2014: Testing Main Loop Once: Processing Frame
12:23:56.4 11/7/2014: Testing Main Loop Once: Main Loop ran successfully
12:24:15.6 11/7/2014: Restoring Cached ICONS from File
12:24:40.2 11/7/2014: Writing Game List to disk
12:24:40.2 11/7/2014: Updating MAME Game List
12:24:40.2 11/7/2014: Running: C: C:\Emulators\Mame32\Mame32.exe -listxml > C:\Emulators\Mame32\listinfo.dat
12:24:44.7 11/7/2014: Opening Listinfo.dat
12:24:46.2 11/7/2014: Reading ListInfo.dat
12:24:52.5 11/7/2014: Reading ListInfo.dat - DONE
12:24:52.5 11/7/2014: Running: C: C:\Emulators\Mame32\Mame32.exe -verifysets -rompath "C:\Emulators\Mame32\roms" > C:\Emulators\Mame32\verify.dat
12:25:14.7 11/7/2014: Opening Verify.dat
12:25:15.7 11/7/2014: Processing Verify.dat
12:25:15.7 11/7/2014: Total verifyable roms: 6429
12:25:15.7 11/7/2014: Processing ListInfo.dat
12:25:23.8 11/7/2014: Listinfo.dat Processing Complete
12:25:23.8 11/7/2014: Sorting MAME Game List
12:25:24.0 11/7/2014: Adding Catver.ini info to gamelist
12:25:28.0 11/7/2014: Importing MAME32 Favorites
12:25:28.0 11/7/2014: Updating Custom Folders
12:25:28.0 11/7/2014: Writing MAME Game List To File
12:26:11.3 11/7/2014: Writing MAME Game List To File
12:26:15.4 11/7/2014: Adding History.dat info to gamelist
12:26:17.4 11/7/2014: Adding History.dat Series info to gamelist
12:28:31.4 11/7/2014: Adding MAMEInfo.dat info to gamelist
12:30:08.2 11/7/2014: Adding Nplayers.ini info to gamelist
12:30:09.8 11/7/2014: Writing Game List to disk
12:30:10.3 11/7/2014: Updating Year List
12:30:10.3 11/7/2014: Updating Manufacturer List
12:30:10.4 11/7/2014: Updating Category List
12:30:10.7 11/7/2014: Writing Year List To File
12:30:10.7 11/7/2014: Writing Manufacturer List To File
12:30:10.7 11/7/2014: Writing Category List To File
12:30:10.7 11/7/2014: Loading Game List
12:30:10.8 11/7/2014: Creating: [Arcade] MAME.mdb
12:30:15.1 11/7/2014: Recreating ICONS
12:30:18.3 11/7/2014: Attract Mode Re-Enabled
12:33:50.1 11/7/2014: Exiting GameEx!
12:33:50.1 11/7/2014: Disposing all videos
12:33:50.1 11/7/2014: Deleting temporary Karaoke videos
12:33:50.1 11/7/2014: Disposing Image List
12:33:50.1 11/7/2014: Disposing Fonts
12:33:50.1 11/7/2014: Disposing Surfaces
12:33:50.1 11/7/2014: Saving Settings
12:33:50.1 11/7/2014: Shutting down Bass
12:33:50.2 11/7/2014: Closing HideOS.exe
12:33:50.4 11/7/2014: Disposing Plugins
12:33:50.4 11/7/2014: Disposing Plugins
12:33:50.4 11/7/2014: Closing database connection
12:33:50.4 11/7/2014: Checking for applications to Launch On Exit
12:33:50.4 11/7/2014: Bye

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Do I paste all this log and config info into the body of a message or send it as an attachment somehow?

You can attach the files using the "More Reply Options" button or paste the contents. We do politely ask that when pasting you embed the contents in the spoiler tags:

[spoiler]paste it here[/spoiler]
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It does have a wireless adapter on the pc and it will logon to the internet automatically after boot up. Do I paste all this log and config info into the body of a message or send it as an attachment somehow?

If all else fails you may want to consider running a full virus scan, as well as a complete malware scan. Malwarebytes still works fine for me, just do custom and select the drives.

If your behind a residential router and getting a DHCP private address your a bit safer, but any browsing could subject you lots of nasty thigs regardless. While it's unlikely you have a public IP, it goes without say that your exposure increases exponentially so if you do.

Just a thought, but out of the blue problems like this make me suspicious with XP.

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I can do all that, but have you seen any type of Malware/Virus that just wipes out Gameex?

I should mention that all the emulators are still working fine and still have all the custom control settings working, etc. It is just Gameex that has gotten wiped clean twice now in the last few days?

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I can do all that, but have you seen any type of Malware/Virus that just wipes out Gameex?

No I haven't, but honestly I've never seen GameEx lose all it's configuration settings like this either.

As I mentioned, if all else fails.

Browsing your setup you've got a fair amount going on. Have you tried testing with a basic MAME and MAME extra config?

<edit> only suggesting that so you don't loose everything over and over upon power cycles.

Nothing jumps out at me, but some of the guru's here could easily see something I don't, so give them a chance to respond.

Edited by tthurman
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Hmmm, well in the newer gameex.ini there is no information regarding any emulators apart from MAME and Daphne, yet in the old one they are clearly there. Can you make sure your newer gameex.ini has write permissions - right-click> Properties, make sure "Read Only" is not checked.

Also, you could try as a long shot backing up your newer gameex.ini first, then over-write it with the old one (still make sure that Read Only is not checked afterwards).

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Unfortunately, you will probably need to upgrade to version 13.32 (current) as there have been many bug fixes and enhancements since version 12.56. The issues you are running into may be resolved by downloading and installing the latest version.

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I was going by the log.txt file from this post which I assumed was the most recent. Odd that it would revert back to a prior version. I wonder if it is installed twice on the same machine.

Already confirmed in my initial questions, and he is running the latest as it has GameEx Online portions - they are new to public correct?

But i agree it is strange that it seems to have reverted back to default on update...

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Actually, come to think of it, i seem to have a memory of Tom stating in a recent update that some (older) versions may not be compatible?! My memory is shot to hell so i'm doubting myself as much as you are reading this, but may be i'm right. Arrrgh! That's what i get for being absent ^_^

EDIT - WfM, your original version of GameEx is quite old right? Maybe the updates are over-writing your old configs to accommodate the new features? This is all speculation of course as like i said - my memory is the most unreliable source of info on the planet :P

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The log file that is included in the body of the message above is the one from this morning after everything had been wiped out. It was the second time I booted the machine and included just a couple of changes I made to the theme and to enable Slikstik support, etc. I upgraded to 13.32 three days ago because when I cut it on then it had been wiped clean.

The log file that is an attachment above is the log file from a cloned hd I made about two years ago. It was running 12.56 at the time it was cloned. So, it has lost all settings running 12.56 and 13.32 in the last several days. Hope that helps clarify. Thanks.

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